OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP)—The Washington state Health Department will be changing marriage and divorce certificates in response to the same-sex marriage law that takes effect Dec. 6.
Words such as “bride,” “groom,” “husband” and “wife” will likely be gone. The department wants to use gender-neutral terms.
Spokesman Tim Church told KIRO-FM they could be replaced with something like “Spouse A” and “Spouse B.”
The forms will still include gender so the state can track the number of same-sex couples in the state.
The department is asking the public for suggestions. A public hearing on wording marriage certificates will be held Wednesday in Tumwater.
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